by Paul Courts
WELL-PERFORMED youngster Stars Of Courage will begin his Southern Cross title defence at Globe Derby on Saturday night as he aims to join a select fraternity.
Victory in the July 29 Final will see the three-year-old become just the eighth champion to retain his throne in the colts’ and geldings’ division.
Popular Port was the ground breaker, capturing the inaugural editions in 1984 and ’85, followed by Pappy Mccoy in 1989 and ’90, William Belle in 1992 and ’93, Robust Venture in 1996 and ’97, Hes A Corka in 2002 and ’03, Alzona in 2007 and ’08 and Hez The One in 2014 and ‘15.
Rap Artist was successful in 2015 and ’16, but was stripped of last season’s win after a swab irregularity.
Ten fillies have registered consecutive wins, with Zamboo Anger the futurity’s record holder.
Not only was she triumphant in the 1985 and ‘86 fillies’ Finals, Zamboo Anger also upstaged the boys in the 1985 ‘open’ decider.
As for Stars Of Courage, his campaign towards greatness kicks starts in a heat of the rich futurity, where he the one to beat after drawing barrier five.
A last-start winner at Ballarat, the son of Courage Under Fire is in peak condition according to trainer David Kemp.
“I wouldn’t swap him for any other in the series,” Kemp said. “He is in great shape and will be very hard to beat in the heat and Final.
“He won well at Ballarat a couple of weeks ago and has trained on great since.
“The draw could be a little tricky, but he is good enough to overcome it.
“Clarenden Hustler on our outside, along with Wroxton Steel and Hodor from the back row, are the biggest dangers.”
Stars Of Courage will contest the first of two qualifiers, with the second a wide open affair.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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